CORVALLIS-- This is a program that prides itself on having morefun than any other in college football, but five weeks into the season the proof of that isn't found in Slip 'N Slides or water balloon fights:

Instead, just look to the 6-foot-5 junior running the offense for the 4-1 Beavers, a guy who can't seem to stop smiling.

Going into the weekend, quarterback Sean Mannion led the countryin total passing yards (2,018), touchdowns (21) and passing yards per game (342.5). He has thrown just two interceptions: One bad decision against Hawaii, and one last week that wasn't his fault, when receiver Richard Mullaney practically handed the ball toa Colorado defensive back. His name has crept into the discussion aboutthe best player in college football, a no-brainer according to receiverBrandin

Not bad for a guy who came into the 2013 season not knowing ifhe was going to start, or even play much.

"Whenhe was named the starter, I think his attitude was, 'OK,I've got this thing and I'm going to BE the starter. Let's go.' He's played with great confidence all season," said offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf. "He's playing loose and relaxed. He looks like he's having a lot of fun."

And much of that, according to Mannion, is because of Langsdorf.

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WhenOregon State shot out to a 4-0 start last season, the countrybuzzed about Mannion's play. The sophomore, who got an earlier-than-expected introduction to major college football when he wasnamed the starter over incumbent Ryan Katz after one game in 2011, looked like he had finally settled in to Mike Riley's offense.

But after another win -- 19-6 over Washington State at home -- Mannion hit a roadblock. A meniscus injury would require surgery, and he was outtwo weeks.

Theensuing weeks are not ones he cares to relive. Though he washealthy, Mannion never found his rhythm completely, and traded startingduties with backup Cody Vaz. He didn't attempt a pass and barely played in the Alamo Bowl,a game Oregon State lost 31-27 after Vaz was sacked a staggering 10 times. He went into the offseason confused,frustrated -- and hungry.

"Ithink about that stupid little injury all the time," Mannionsaid. "I'm not going to drive myself nuts about it, but I do wonder, what would have happened if I had been given the chance to play through it?"

Riley declined to name a starter during spring ball, forcing thecompetition to drag into August.

"Whileyou're practicing, I don't think you're really thinkingabout it. Your mind starts wandering during weights, when you're on your own, stuff like that. In the offseason, it's easy to create bad scenarios," Mannion said. "There was definitely this sense of, 'When will we know?' but I really tried to not talk aboutit."

Instead,he focused on his to-do list for 2013: Be more accurate,protect the ball better and have a shorter memory. Mannion, who threw 13 interceptions in 2012, had a bad habit of letting mistakes pile up quickly and not always stepping into his throws. He also wanted to throwa tighter spiral, so he went to work in the weight room.

Langsdorf,Riley and Mannion's father, John, who coached Sean inhigh school and now runs the program at Silverton, says his play this season is partially attributed to the natural maturation of a college quarterback. But Sean says it's also because he has completely given up Mountain Dew, which has helped him trim hisbody fat to around 12 percent.

“Oooh, that ball is coming with a lot more velocity this year,”Cooks said. “But that’s what happens when you dedicate yourself in the weight room. I’mimpressed, but I’m not surprised.”

Muchhas been made about the chemistry between Mannion and Cooks,an All-American candidate who's making a case for being the best receiver in the country. Both brush off praise from the other: Cooks says Mannion knows exactly where to place the ball, and Mannion says Cooks repeatedly makes him look good.

But perhaps undervalued in all this talk is the chemistry betweena quarterback and his offensive coordinator.

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On Aug. 26 when Riley named a starter, Langsdorf pulled Mannioninto his office for a one-on-one meeting. His message, said Mannion, was simple but powerful.

"Hebasically told me that the coaches were going to stick by meand have my back," Mannion said. "I think anyone who's been in a competition, you wonder if you have two 3-and-outs, are you going to getpulled? It's something you're concerned about. But he dispelled that. That conversation really did a lot for me."

Therelationship Mannion built with Langsdorf in the recruitingprocess was a huge part of why Mannion chose Oregon State, and he says nothing changed through the quarterback controversy. Their conversationsduring games are better too, because they’re close, and because Mannion is finally confident enough to explain whyhe went to a certain guy.

“There’sa lot less yelling now,” Langsdorf laughed. “A big partof his play right now is his experience. He’s able to verbalize what was going on in his mind during a play. Before, he was just trying to get through a play.”

TheBeavers have struggled to get a traditional run game going, but are finding success with fly sweeps and screens. The biggest takeaway for Mannion so far this season? “If you check it down, you’re never wrong.” And Mannion, who is a pretty quiet, shy person, gets loud and excited when talking about his offensive line,which might not be creating holes in the run game but is giving him plenty of time to throw.

But the numbers don’t lie, as the saying goes, words Storm Woodsagrees with.

OSU’sstarting running back has watched the last two games fromthe sideline as he recovers from a concussion and after the San Diego State game seemed in awe of his quarterback.

“Dude,” Woods said, “do youknow how good Sean Mannion is?”

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Quarterback Sean Mannion says the beat-up offensive line hasn't been given enough credit for how well they've protected him this season, and attributes his success partially to how much time he has in the pocket.Randy L. Rasmussen/The Oregonian

A self-described football junkie, Mannion planned to use the Beavers’bye weekend to “lay around on the couch watching games and playing Madden.” He drove up to Silverton on Friday night to watch his dad’s team and see his youngest sister, Megan, honored as the freshman homecoming princess.

JohnMannion says his oldest son has done a good job adopting theSilverton community and it’s clear they claim him as one of their own. He was bombarded with autograph and picture requests while on the sideline Friday night, and as officials sprinted off the field after Silverton’s 49-0 blowout over Lebanon, two of themshouted “Go Beavs!” when they passed Mannion.

It seems that everyone wants a piece of a Heisman dark horse.

“Theday he went to OSU, I stopped being a coach,” John Mannionsaid. “I’m just a dad, and me and my wife, we’re just so proud. It’s awesome to see what he’s doing and what the team is doing. And we tell him to enjoy it. It’s stressful, but it’s also fleeting.”

As for the Heisman chatter, Mannion rolls his eyes while wavinghis hand,dismissing any premature talk. There’s still plenty to prove, he says. But, he admits with a smile, having fun plays a role in success.